Wireless communication method and apparatus for transferring buffered enhanced uplink data from a mobile station to a node-B

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication method and apparatus for transferring buffered enhanced uplink (EU) data from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), i.e., a mobile station, to a Node-B. The EU data is generated and stored in a buffer of the WTRU. The WTRU transmits a message to the Node-B including a request for a desired transport format combination (TFC) or data traffic indicator. The Node-B schedules one or more allowed EU data transmissions between the WTRU and the Node-B by transmitting an EU data scheduling message to the WTRU. The WTRU transmits all of the EU data stored in the buffer to the Node-B if the allowed EU data transmissions are sufficient to support transmission of all of the EU data stored in the buffer. Otherwise, the WTRU transmits a portion of the EU data along with the desired TFC or detailed traffic volume measurement (TVM) information to the Node-B.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/520,227, filed Nov. 14, 2003, which isincorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to a wireless communication systemincluding a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a Node-B. Moreparticularly, the present invention is related to providing WTRU uplink(UL) traffic information to the Node-B for scheduling enhanced uplink(EU) transmissions.

BACKGROUND

Methods for enhancing UL coverage, throughput and transmission latencyin a wireless communication system, such as a frequency division duplex(FDD) system, are currently being investigated in release 6 (R6) of thethird generation partnership project (3GPP). Instead of scheduling andassigning UL physical channels in a radio network controller (RNC), aNode-B (i.e., a base station controller) is used to communicate with aplurality of WTRUs such that more efficient decisions can be made and ULradio resources can be managed on a short-term basis better than theRNC, even if the RNC retains overall control of the system. A similarapproach has already been adopted in the downlink for release 5 (R5) ofhigh speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) in a universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS) for both an FDD mode and a timedivision duplex (TDD) mode.

In order for the Node-B to make efficient allocation decisions andprioritize between different data flows, the Node-B requires knowledgeof UL data buffered in the WTRU for individual data channels along withtheir associated priority. However, conventional UL signaling methodshave limited capacity, and thus may not be able to accommodate thereporting of detailed traffic volume measurement (TVM) information fromthe WTRU.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a wireless communication method and apparatusfor transferring buffered EU data from a WTRU, (i.e., a mobile station),to a Node-B. The apparatus may be a wireless communication system, aWTRU and/or an integrated circuit (IC). The EU data is generated andstored in a buffer of the WTRU. The WTRU transmits an initial EU datatransmission request message to the Node-B indicating that the WTRU hasEU data to transfer to the Node-B. The initial EU data transmissionrequest message includes a request for a desired transport formatcombination (TFC) or data traffic indicator. In response to receivingthe initial EU data transmission request message, the Node-B schedulesone or more allowed EU data transmissions between the WTRU and theNode-B by transmitting an EU data scheduling message to the WTRU. TheWTRU transfers all of the EU data stored in the buffer to the Node-B ifthe allowed EU data transmissions are sufficient to support transmissionof all of the EU data stored in the buffer. Otherwise, the WTRUtransmits a portion of the EU data along with the desired TFC ordetailed TVM information to the Node-B.

The procedure used to transfer EU data stored in the buffer of the WTRUmay be dependent upon whether or not the quantity of the EU data exceedsan established threshold. The initial EU data transmission requestmessage may be transmitted to the Node-B only after the quantity of thestored EU data exceeds the established threshold. When the establishedthreshold is not exceeded, the WTRU may transfer all of the EU data fromthe buffer of the WTRU to the Node-B without requiring schedulinginformation from the Node-B. If the established threshold is set tozero, the WTRU may transfer the stored EU data from the buffer of theWTRU to the Node-B only after receiving scheduling information from theNode-B.

The EU data transmission request message may be identified in at leastone layer 1 physical control field or layer 2 medium access control(MAC) header.

The desired TFC or data traffic indicator may be signaled in at leastone physical control field on an EU dedicated physical control channel(EU-DPCCH). Another field on the EU-DPCCH may include other EU relatedmessages. If there is no EU data for the WTRU to transfer to the Node-Bthat requires further scheduling, the physical control field is empty ornot included.

In an alternate embodiment, the EU data transmission message may includea MAC header with a field including the desired TFC or detailed TVMinformation. The MAC header may further include one or more other EU MACfields. When the MAC header is empty or not included, there is no EUdata for the WTRU to transfer to the Node-B.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from thefollowing description of a preferred example, given by way of exampleand to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system operating in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a signal flow diagram for the system of FIG. 1 when the EUdata transmissions allowed by an EU data scheduling message are notsufficient to transmit all of the EU data buffered in the WTRU;

FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram for the system of FIG. 1 when the EUdata transmissions allowed by an EU data scheduling message aresufficient to transmit all of the EU data buffered in the WTRU;

FIG. 4 shows a frame structure used for requesting EU data schedulinginformation via an EU channel in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 show a MAC PDU format used to indicate a desired TFC or detailedTVM information in accordance with an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process including method steps fortransferring buffered EU data in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereafter, the terminology “WTRU” includes but is not limited to a userequipment (UE), mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, pager,or any other type of device capable of operating in a wirelessenvironment.

When referred to hereafter, the terminology “Node-B” includes but is notlimited to a base station, site controller, access point or any othertype of interfacing device in a wireless environment.

The present invention may be further applicable to TDD, FDD, and timedivision synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), asapplied to Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA 2000and CDMA in general, but is envisaged to be applicable to other wirelesssystems as well.

The features of the present invention may be incorporated into an IC orbe configured in a circuit comprising a multitude of interconnectingcomponents.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system 100 operating in accordancewith the present invention. The system 100 includes a WTRU 105 and aNode-B 110 which communicate with each other via wireless signals 115.The WTRU 105 includes at least one buffer 120.

FIG. 2 is a signal flow diagram for the wireless communication system100 when one or more EU data transmissions allowed by a first EU datascheduling message are not sufficient to transmit all of the EU datastored in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105. EU data 205 is generated atthe WTRU 105 and is stored in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105. When thequantity of the EU data in the buffer 120 exceeds an established EU databuffer threshold, the WTRU 105 sends an initial request message 210 tothe Node-B 110 via an EU signaling channel. EU data transmissions sentby the WTRU 105 are not required to be scheduled by the Node-B 110 whenthe established threshold is not exceeded.

The initial request message 210 may include a desired TFC or a datatraffic indicator. If the limited payload capacity of the EU controlchannel cannot accommodate the signaling of a desired TFC, the WTRU 105may send a message to the Node-B 110 indicating that the WTRU 105 has EUdata to transmit to the Node-B 110 via an EU control channel. Thedesired TFC may be an index to a preconfigured list of possible uplinktransport formats (or TFCs).

Referring still to FIG. 2, upon receiving the initial request message210, the Node-B 110 schedules one or more EU data transmissions betweenthe WTRU 105 and the Node-B 110 via a first EU data scheduling message215. In response to receiving the first EU data scheduling message 215,the WTRU 105 sends one or more EU data transmissions 220 to the Node-B110 allowed by the first EU data scheduling message 215. If the EU datatransmissions allowed by the first EU data scheduling message 215 arenot sufficient to transmit all of the EU data buffered in the WTRU 105,the WTRU 105 sends EU data transmissions 220 including desired TFCinformation to the Node-B 110. The desired TFC information included inmessages 210 and 220 may either be signaled in at least one physicalcontrol field or MAC header along with the EU data transmissions 220.The desired TFC may be reflected by an index into a list ofpredetermined TFCs. The desired TFC is used by the Node-B 110 todetermine and generate subsequent scheduling messages 225 a-225 n.

Alternatively, in lieu of the desired TFC information, detailed TVMinformation may be provided with the EU data transmissions 220. Thedetailed TVM information may indicate the amount of buffered dataassociated with individual traffic flows (channels) that can beassociated with priority classes mapped to the EU dedicated channel(EU-DCH). Node-B 110 can utilize the comprehensive knowledge of thedesired TFC or detailed TVM information and potentially associatedpriorities reported via the EU transmissions 220 to determine subsequentuplink scheduling. When the WTRU 105 obtains additional EU data lateron, the WTRU 105 may choose to report updated desired TFC or detailedTVM information to the Node-B 110. The Node-B 110 then schedulessubsequent EU data transmissions from the WTRU 105 to the Node-B 110 viasubsequent EU data scheduling messages 225 a-225 n.

FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram for the wireless communication system100 when one or more EU data transmissions allowed by an EU datascheduling message are sufficient to transmit all of the EU data storedin the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105. EU data 305 is generated at the WTRU105 and is stored in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105. When the quantityof the EU data in the buffer 120 exceeds an established EU data bufferthreshold, the WTRU 105 sends an initial request message 310 to theNode-B 110 via an EU signaling channel. The initial request message 310may include a desired TFC or a data traffic indicator. If the limitedpayload capacity of the EU control channel cannot accommodate thesignaling of a desired TFC, the WTRU 105 may send a message to theNode-B 110 indicating that the WTRU 105 has EU data to transmit to theNode-B 110 via an EU control channel. The desired TFC may be an index toa preconfigured list of possible uplink transmission formats (or TFCs).

EU data transmissions sent by the WTRU 105 are not required to bescheduled by the Node-B 110 when the established EU data bufferthreshold is not exceeded.

Still referring to FIG. 3, upon receiving the initial request message310, the Node-B 110 schedules one or more EU data transmissions betweenthe WTRU 105 and the Node-B 110 via an EU data scheduling message 315.In response to receiving the EU data scheduling message 315, the WTRU105 sends one or more EU data transmissions 320 allowed by the EU datascheduling message 315. If the EU data transmissions allowed by the EUdata scheduling message 315 are sufficient to transmit all of the EUdata 305 buffered in the WTRU 105, all of the EU data stored in thebuffer 120 of the WTRU 105 is sent to the Node-B 110. In this case, ULsignaling information indicating the desired TFC or detailed TVMinformation is either not included or an associated message field isleft empty, indicating that the WTRU 105 does not require furtherscheduling allocations.

FIG. 4 shows a frame structure 400 used for requesting EU datascheduling information via an EU channel in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. The frame structure 400 may beincorporated into the initial request message 210 and, potentially, theEU data transmissions 220 previously described in conjunction with FIG.2.

The frame structure 400 includes a “requested TFC information/EU dataindication” field 405 and an “other EU related messages” field 410. Therequested TFC information/EU data indication field 405 is signaled in atleast one physical control field on the EU-DPCCH. An empty requested TFCinformation/EU data indication field 405 indicates that there is no morebuffered EU data for the WTRU 105 to send to the Node-B 110, and thus,no further scheduling allocations from the Node-B 110 are required. TheEU-DPCCH may be code or time-multiplexed with an EU-DCH and/or a highspeed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH).

FIG. 5 shows a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) format 500 used to indicatea desired TFC or detailed TVM information in accordance with analternate embodiment of the present invention. The MAC PDU format 500may be incorporated into the EU data transmissions 220 and, potentially,the initial request message 210 previously described in conjunction withFIG. 2.

The MAC PDU format 500 includes a “requested TFC/TVM information field”505, one or more “other EU MAC header fields” 510, and a MAC SDU field515. The requested TFC/TVM information field 505 is signaled within theMAC header of EU data transmissions. An empty requested TFC/TVMinformation field 505 indicates that there is no more buffered EU datafor the WTRU 105 to send to the Node-B 110, and thus, no furtherscheduling allocations from the Node-B 110 are required.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process 600 including method steps fortransferring user data from the WTRU 105 to the Node-B 110 in accordancewith the present invention. In step 605, EU data is generated and storedin the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105. In optional step 610, a determinationis made as to whether or not the quantity of EU data stored in thebuffer 120 of the WTRU 105 exceeds an established threshold. When thequantity of the stored EU data in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105 doesnot exceed the established threshold, EU transmissions are allowedwithout Node-B scheduling, and all of the stored EU data is transmittedto the Node-B 110 (step 630). If the quantity of the stored EU dataexceeds the established threshold, the WTRU 105 sends an initial EU datatransmission request message including desired TFC information or just atraffic indicator (i.e., an EU data indication) to the Node-B 110indicating that the WTRU 105 has EU data to send to the Node-B 110 (step615).

It should be noted that the established EU data buffer threshold may beset to zero. In this case, the storage of any amount of EU data in thebuffer 120 of the WTRU 105 will always trigger the transmission of aninitial request message 210.

Still referring to FIG. 6, in step 620, the Node-B 110 sends an EU datascheduling message, including information on one or more allowed EU datatransmissions, to the WTRU 105 to schedule transmission of the EU databuffered in the WTRU 105 to the Node-B 110. In step 625, the WTRU 105determines if the allowed EU data transmissions are sufficient totransmit all of the buffered EU data. If the EU data transmissionsallowed by the current scheduling information are sufficient to supporttransmission of all of the EU data stored in the buffer 120, all of theEU data buffered in the WTRU 105 is transmitted to the Node-B 110 in theallowed EU data transmissions (step 630).

If the EU data transmissions allowed by the current schedulinginformation are not sufficient to transmit all of the EU data bufferedin the WTRU 105, the WTRU 105 transmits one or more EU datatransmissions including the desired TFC or detailed TVM information tothe Node-B 110 (step 635). In step 640, the Node-B 110 determinespriorities associated with the EU data. Node-B 110 utilizes theknowledge of the requested TFC or detailed TVM information, andassociated priorities for determining the EU physical channel, andscheduling and transmitting one or more additional EU data transmissionsuntil there is no more EU data buffered in the WTRU 105.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention describedhereinabove.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transferring enhanced uplink (EU)data implemented by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:storing EU data in a buffer of the WTRU, wherein the EU data isassociated with a plurality of data flows, wherein the plurality of dataflows are associated with a plurality of priority classes; transmittingan EU data transmission request message over an EU channel includingtraffic volume measurement (TVM) information, wherein the TVMinformation includes both an indication of an amount of EU data storedin the buffer and an indication of an amount of EU data stored in thebuffer associated with one of the plurality of data flows, wherein theEU data transmission request message is transmitted in an EU mediumaccess control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) along with allowed EU datain a same EU MAC PDU; receiving an EU data scheduling message;determining whether the EU data scheduling message allows for the amountof EU data stored in the buffer to be transmitted; and transmitting aportion of the EU data stored in the buffer on a condition that the EUdata scheduling message does not allow all of the EU data stored in thebuffer to be transmitted, wherein a portion of the EU data istransmitted with TVM information in a same EU MAC PDU.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising transmitting all of the EU data stored in thebuffer on a condition that the EU data scheduling message allows all theEU data stored in the buffer to be transmitted.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein an EU MAC PDU further comprises one or more other EU MAC fields.4. The method of claim 3 wherein an empty or not included EU MAC fieldof an EU MAC PDU used to indicate the TVM information indicates thatthere is no EU data for the WTRU to transfer.
 5. A wirelesstransmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a buffer; circuitry configuredto store enhanced uplink (EU) data in the buffer, wherein the EU data isassociated with a plurality of data flows, wherein the plurality of dataflows are associated with a plurality of priority classes; circuitryconfigured to transmit an EU data transmission request message over anEU channel including traffic volume measurement (TVM) information,wherein the TVM information includes both an indication of an amount ofEU data stored in the buffer and an indication of an amount of EU datastored in the buffer associated with one of the plurality of data flows,wherein the EU data transmission request message is transmitted in an EUmedium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) along with allowedEU data in a same EU MAC PDU; circuitry configured to receive an EU datascheduling message; circuitry configured to determine whether the EUdata scheduling message allows for the amount of EU data stored in thebuffer to be transmitted; and circuitry configured to transmit a portionof the EU data stored in the buffer on a condition that the EU datascheduling message does not allow all of the EU data stored in thebuffer to be transmitted, wherein a portion of the EU data istransmitted with TVM information in a same EU MAC PDU.
 6. The WTRU ofclaim 5 further comprising: circuitry configured to transmit all of theEU data stored in the buffer on a condition that the EU data schedulingmessage allows all of the EU data stored in the buffer to betransmitted.
 7. The WTRU of claim 5 wherein an EU MAC PDU furthercomprises one or more other EU MAC fields.
 8. The WTRU of claim 7wherein an empty or not included EU MAC field of an EU MAC PDU used toindicate TVM information indicates that there is no EU data for the WTRUto transfer.